Exotic Animals

In Memoriam: Senator Frank Lautenberg

Tuesday, June 4, 2013 - 4:15pm
In Memoriam: Senator Frank Lautenberg

The U.S. Senate lost a voice for animals this week with the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). A leader on many important pieces of legislation to help animals, his contributions will have a lasting impact for years to come. 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katina, which saw many people forced to leave their animals behind as they evacuated, Sen. Lautenberg helped pass the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act. This legislation, signed into law in 2006, ensures that localities consider pets and animals in their disaster plans. The ASPCA sees the benefits of Sen. Lautenberg’s legacy today as we assist states and municipalities in disaster recovery efforts all across the country. 

Senator Lautenberg was also a leader on legislation to protect animals during air travel, and had a special fondness for horses. He was a leader on the Horse Transportation Safety Act, which would ban the cruel transport of horses in double-decked trailers, and was a longtime supporter of legislation to ban the grisly practice of horse slaughter. The senator’s compassion also extended to wildlife. He fought to protect exotic animals from captive hunts; dolphins and whales from brutal slaughters; wildlife and pets from the dangers of lead shot; and polar bears from trophy hunts. He had a big heart and a strong sense of justice.

The ASPCA remembers Sen. Lautenberg for his many years of service to this country and for being a strong voice for animals on Capitol Hill. 

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Exotic Animals

U.S. Senate Takes Action to Protect Captive Primates

Monday, June 25, 2012 - 1:30pm
Monkey In Cage

On Thursday, June 21, the United States Senate moved forward on important legislation to protect the welfare of captive primates. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved the Captive Primate Safety Act (S. 1324), introduced by the committee’s Chair, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA). The measure can now be considered by the full Senate.

The Captive Primate Safety Act would ban monkeys and other primates from the exotic pet trade. As we all know, no wild animal, especially a primate, should ever be kept as a pet.

Apes and monkeys are highly intelligent animals who need to live with their own kind in order to develop normally. In the wild, they inhabit large territories and enjoy companionship in organized social groups. Private owners have neither the knowledge nor the proper environments to provide the long-term, specialized care that captive primates require.

Many captive primates have attacked humans and other animals, or have escaped from their enclosures into the community. Bites and scratches from nonhuman primates can transmit viruses that can cause severe infections and even death to humans.

Take Action!
While we applaud Chairwoman Boxer and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for moving forward with this important legislation to protect primates, more work still needs to be done. Please call your two U.S. senators today and ask them to cosponsor S. 1324, the Captive Primate Safety Act. You can find your senators' names and numbers here.

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Advocacy
Exotic Animals
Take Action

Victory: Ohio Governor Signs Dangerous Wild Animal Act into Law!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 - 10:15am
Ohio Exotic Animal Law

Finally! Ohio Governor John Kasich has signed the Dangerous Wild Animal Act into law. The Ohio House of Representatives passed the bill 87-9 on May 22, and the Ohio Senate passed it 30-1 in April. With the Ohio governor’s signature, only six states——Alabama, Nevada, North Carolina, West Virginia, South Carolina and Wisconsin—have little to no restrictions on the private possession of dangerous wild animals.

The bill comes into law about seven months after 56 exotic animals—including lions, tigers, wolves and bears—escaped a Zanesville, Ohio farm. The farm's owner, Terry Thompson, reportedly freed the animals before committing suicide. Nearly all the animals were shot dead as they roamed the city streets.

"We commend Governor Kasich for recognizing the need to regulate dangerous exotic animals and ensuring the safety of Ohio residents, as well as the health and well-being of wild animals kept as pets," says Nancy Perry, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Government Relations.

The new law will:

  • Ban new ownership of dangerous wild animals, including big cats, some smaller exotic cats, bears, hyenas, gray wolves, non-human primate species, alligators and crocodiles in Ohio;
  • Grandfather in existing animals so people who currently have them can keep them, as long as they obtain a permit;
  • Require owners of exotic animals covered under the grandfather clause to acquire liability insurance or surety bonds ranging from $200,000 to $1 million;
  • Require existing owners of exotic animals to comply with housing and safety standards to be established by the Ohio Department of Agriculture; and
  •  Require owners of existing exotic animals to pass criminal background checks to qualify for a permit.  

 

For more information about the exotic pet trade, please visit our Fight Animal Cruelty section. 

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Advocacy
Animal Cruelty
Exotic Animals